As seen in the timeline above, Woodbridge has seen significant dislocations
of its housing stock and population, especially over the last fifty years.
The extent of these changes can be seen more clearly by examining census
data for Woodbridge during this time period. The following profile tracks
these changes from 1950 to the 2000 census.

The 1960 census for Woodbridge shows a large decrease in available housing
units in the area. In nineteen-fifty, 9,276 dwellings were identified in
the area. In 1960, only 2,892 total dwelling units were identified. That
was a loss of 6,384 units in ten years. During the same time period, Woodbridge
saw a loss in overall population from 28,634 to 25,453.

Woodbridge experienced another major population loss between 1960 to
1990; as did the rest of Detroit (Figure 2 and 3). However, this loss was
not proportional to that experienced by the entire city. While Detroit's
decline has been steady over time, the Woodbridge decline has been more
abrupt. The area saw its biggest loss between 1960 to 1970, a 43% reduction
over ten years. The 1970 total population, 14,572, was only half the 1950
population. Between 1970 and 1980 there was a further drop to 3,000 residents,
an 80% total decline. It is fair to say that much of this population loss
was due to earlier urban renewal in the area.

Yet the 2000 census figures give hope for a Woodbridge revival, with
an increase in population to 3,189, a 6% gain. In contrast, the rest of
the city continues to decline. The Detroit population dropped from 1,027,974
in 1990 to 951,270 in 2000. So, while Woodbridge saw a 6% increase, Detroit
saw a 7% decrease.

Figure 2: Woodbridge total Population

Figure 3: Detroit total Population

In addition to total population changes, both Woodbridge and Detroit
saw changes in race over time (see figures 4 and 5). It is important to
note that although Black and White populations declined in Woodbridge between
1970 and 2000, the Black population declined more dramatically. This was
particularly true during the Urban Renewal period.

Figure 4: Woodbridge: Racial Distribution

Figure 5: Detroit: Racial Distribution

For a clear image of Woodbridge, it is helpful to look at the most complete
data available. This is the 1990 Census Data (see Table 2). By the end
of 2002, complete data from the most recent census will be publicly available.

Table 2: 1990 U.S. Census Data

Woodbridge

Detroit

Number

Percent

Number

Percent

Racial Distribution

White

655

22%

212,278

21%

Black

2.251

75%

774,529

75%

Other

94

3%

41,167

4%

Age

Under 5 years

274

9%

93,109

9%

5-9 years

209

7%

79,646

8%

10-14 years

201

6%

78,865

8%

15-19 years

191

6%

85,856

8%

More than 20 years

1,131

72%

690,498

67%

Employed

Total number employed

914

355,462

Professional, technical

379

42%

75,803

21%

Clerical, kindred workers

83

9%

65,434

18%

Sales workers

68

7%

28,578

8%

Operatives, kindred workers

21

2%

3,556

1%

Service Workers

147

16%

65,460

18%

Laborers

216

24%

98,358

28%

Household Income

Less than $5,000

293

24%

60,104

16%

$5,000-$9,999

289

24%

60,692

16%

$10,000-$14,999

85

7%

40,846

11%

$15,000-$24,999

166

13%

61,515

17%

$25,000-$34,999

111

9%

48,501

13%

$35,000-$49,999

138

11%

50,922

14%

$50,000-$74,999

134

11%

36,093

10%

$75,000-$99,999

0

0%

10,524

>1 %

$100,000-$149,999

8

1%

3,685

1%

$150,000 or more

0

0%

975

>1%

Poverty Status

Persons Above

1,188

41%

328,467

32%

Persons Below

1,744

59%

685,013

68%

Housing

Total Dwelling Units

1,631

410,027

Owner Occupied

320

20%

197,929

48%

Renter Occupied

1,012

62%

176,128

43%

Vacant

299

18%

35,970

9%

As you can see from Table 2, Woodbridge is similar to the city in many
ways. The racial, income and age distributions of both the community and
the city are very similar. However, the housing distribution is somewhat
different. Woodbridge has a higher percentage of renters than the city
as a whole. Also, Woodbridge has a lower percentage of people living below
poverty, despite its substantial low-income (working poor) population.
As the 2000 census data is released, it will be interesting to see how
Woodbridge changes or remains the same, and to what degree issues of interest
to renters and the working poor remain relevant to the community.

Note: Changes in census tract boundaries make it difficult
to create a consistent historical portrait of the Woodbridge Historic Area.
There is no equivalent tract in any census before 1990. However, by using
the Geographic Information System, several tracts have been combined to
create a close representation of boundaries that define Woodbridge. Therefore,
the figures presented prior to 1990 are probably overstatements of the
area's actual figures.